The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 142 Discussing the reduction of fiefdoms with the princes.

The King of Wu and the Duke of Min have almost finished discussing the cooperation on the canal.

According to the normal meeting process, the next step is to prepare for the banquet and then have the clerical staff draft a memorandum of cooperation.

However, Zheng Ruian, the prince of the Min Kingdom, finally found an opportunity to ask Wu Wang Zhu Jianxuan what he wanted to ask:
"Your Highness, please forgive me for being so rude, but I heard that you supported reducing the power of the feudal lords when you were young?"

According to the custom at that time, Zhu Jianxuan had just turned fifteen this year, but his height was already over 1.7 meters, which was completely the height of an adult.

There is no problem when you are young.

Zhu Jianxuan felt helpless when he heard this question:

"After I returned to Australia, I read newspapers over the past two years in my spare time and found that the story was getting more and more outrageous.

“Things were actually very simple at the time, and my point of view was also very simple.

“I actually don’t support setting up a vassal state in the core area of ​​China, as that would lead to chaos.

“The experiences of past dynasties are countless.

“But I support the establishment of feudal states in remote places and overseas lands, which will help develop and control remote lands.

“The reason why the United States is independent is that it is separated from the British mainland by the Atlantic Ocean.

“The decrees of the British king and the court could not be implemented normally in the United States, but they still wanted to rule directly. The final result was rebellion and independence.

"At that time, my father wanted to establish a vassal state for me in Zhejiang, so I asked to exchange Zhejiang for Australia and the surrounding islands.

"Finally, the emperor agreed, and everyone knows what happened next..."

Zhu Jianxuan casually described the situation at that time. Zheng Ruian and the two staff members took a deep breath:
"Zhejiang!"

"Change to Australia?"

"How can this be compared?"

Everyone present knew very well where Zhejiang was.

With a total population of more than 20 million, it is second only to the Southern Zhili region and is one of the richest places in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Jianxuan did not accept the fiefdom, but instead exchanged one of the best places in the world for the barren land of Australia.

Both Chen Yuyang and Lin Jianxing subconsciously felt that Zhu Jianxuan considered that if he stayed in Zhejiang, he would definitely become a thorn in the eyes of the next generation of emperors, so he decided to change places.

It has a population of more than 20 million and is very rich. The key is that it is close to Nanjing, Zhili. Establishing a vassal state in such a place would keep the new emperor awake at night.

But Zheng Ruian was more concerned about Zhu Jianxuan's reasons:

"Your Highness... do you not support the establishment of a vassal state in the mainland? In other words, do you support the reduction of vassal states in the mainland?"

Zhu Jianxuan hesitated for a few seconds:
“Rather than saying it’s about reducing the feudal system, it’s more like suggesting that the feudal system be relocated, moving the native feudal states overseas.

"This is a compromise solution that will reduce the losses and resistance of the vassal states.

"It will also free up the central government to concentrate on the northern expedition to the Central Plains and recover the old capital."

Zheng Ruian got a little excited after hearing this:
"In other words, Your Highness thinks that the Northern Expedition is more important than reducing the power of the feudal lords? But how can we achieve the Northern Expedition without reducing the power of the feudal lords?"

At this time, Lin Jianxing and Chen Yuyang had recovered. Listening to the conversation between their own young master and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu, they were so frightened that their hearts almost jumped out of their chests.

How can you, a prince of a vassal state and a monarch of a vassal state, openly discuss the reduction of the power of the vassal state?

Lin Jianxing lowered his voice and reminded Zheng Ruian:
"Prince, please be careful with your words, be careful with your words..."

After chatting with Zheng Ruian for a few words, Zhu Jianxuan discovered Zheng Ruian's ideological problems.

The prince of this feudal state may have begun to move towards nationalism in the way he speaks and even thinks.

During this era, the Ming Dynasty was divided into many warlords, and half of the north was occupied by barbarians. This situation gave birth to a new trend of thought that advocated a northern expedition and the reduction of the power of the warlords.

Young people who grew up under the influence of this trend of thought are already very different from their elders.

These new generations of the ruling class, influenced by the idealized ideas that are taken for granted, may betray the class they were born into.

When the Northern Expedition is truly successful, this kind of thought will be truly mature and will become the mainstream thought of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Jianxuan consciously talked to and guided Zheng Ruian, so he now expressed his views very decisively:

"Of course the Northern Expedition is more important. Those things in the newspapers that say we must first stabilize the country before we can resist foreign aggression are all scholarly views.

"Reducing the power of the feudal lords and the Northern Expedition are two sides of the same coin. It is impossible to solve one before doing the other.

“One hand must hold down one side while the other hand handles the other side.

“No matter who is dealt with first, the price to be paid is relatively similar, but the results will definitely be different.

“If we succeed in reducing the power of the feudal lords first, we will still have to fight a battle if we want to march north.

"It is impossible for the Qing dynasty's barbarian chieftains to surrender directly, and we will not allow them to surrender.

“Moreover, when the Ming dynasty was reducing the power of the feudal lords, even if the Qing dynasty failed in its southward campaign, it would have had the opportunity to immediately retreat to North America.

“If we launch the Northern Expedition first, we can choose to cross the sea to Liaodong and block the enemy chief’s path in advance.

"After the Northern Expedition is successful, there may be no need to specifically reduce the local vassal states.

"If the emperor issues an imperial decree, most of the vassal states will voluntarily withdraw their fiefdoms.

"Under such circumstances, unless the emperor allows them to move overseas, they will have nowhere to run." Zheng Ruian ignored the reminder of his staff and continued to question Zhu Jianxuan:
"Your Highness, what do you think the success rate of the Northern Expedition is?"

Zhu Jianxuan said without hesitation:
"How many percent? It can only be 100 percent. Even if it can't succeed for a while, it can't be impossible for it to fail forever.

"As my inventions continue to unfold over the years, the power gap between the Ming Dynasty's central court and the vassal states and the pseudo-Qing Dynasty will become larger and larger.

“After more than ten years, or as little as five or six years, you will be able to suppress one party with one hand and defeat the other party at the same time.

"When that time comes, the end of the pseudo-Qing chieftains and the feudal lords will come."

Zheng Ruian didn't expect Zhu Jianxuan to be so optimistic, and he couldn't accept such a judgment:

"More than ten years at most? Can it really be that fast?"

Zhu Jianxuan thought for a moment and said:
“When the prince came to Australia, he should have seen the scene of my capital. This is the result of the past six years.

“This was built overseas, in a completely wild place.

"The core area of ​​the Ming Dynasty was originally extremely prosperous, with highly developed industry and commerce.

“The pace at which various factories are being rolled out will only get faster.

"Five years ago, the annual steel production of the Ming Dynasty was only a few hundred thousand tons, but now it has reached one million tons.

"How much can this steel be used to make muskets, cannons, warships, and railways?"

Zheng Ruian basically agreed with Zhu Jianxuan's statement, but he still had another question:
"Now that we have steamships, it only takes a month to travel from Ming mainland to Australia.

"Once the Northern Expedition is completed, how will Your Highness deal with it?"

Zhu Jianxuan had other thoughts in his mind, but most of them could not be expressed out loud. It was impossible for him to discuss his desire for the throne of the Ming Dynasty with outsiders.

So I gave a natural answer:
"I am going to North America to open up a new world for the people of the Ming Dynasty. North America is a wild land, and it is the most suitable place to establish a country.

“When the Crown Prince returns to Quanzhou, he should also remind the Duke of Min to make plans early. There are still some unowned lands overseas that can be developed.

"It's best not to become one of those feudal lords that are eventually reduced to a state of disgrace, as that would not leave a good reputation in history."

Zhu Jianxuan was not talking nonsense. If things were ultimately unsuccessful, he might indeed choose to give up Australia and become a local emperor in North America.

Zheng Ruian was most concerned about Zhu Jianxuan's last words. Hearing this, he stood up and bowed very seriously:

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness."

Chen Yuyang and Lin Jianxing next to them finally couldn't bear it anymore, and they also stood up and forcibly left:

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. We will not disturb you for now."

Zhu Jianxuan did not stop them and turned to the doctor of the Cultural Department:

"Then today's meeting ends here. Let's send everyone to the reception to rest."

Then Zheng Ruian was surrounded by two aides and had to take his leave and leave Chengyun Hall.

After leaving the hall, Chen Yuyang said directly:

"Your Highness was too reckless today. How could he possibly discuss the issue of reducing the power of a vassal king with His Royal Highness?"

Lin Jianxing stopped arguing with Chen Yuyang and instead echoed:
"If what we said today gets out, I wonder how much trouble it will cause."

Zheng Ruian said very seriously:

“I think what His Royal Highness the King of Wu said makes a lot of sense. He is worthy of being the living Lu Ban.

“As the scale of industrial construction grows, the central government’s financial and military power will also grow stronger.

"It should be possible to use military force against the barbarians and the military governors at the same time soon. The military governors and the barbarians can no longer hold out for too long.

"Your Highness's proposal to move the vassal state overseas is the best outcome for the vassal state.

"After returning to Quanzhou, you two gentlemen should work together to persuade and remind father."

Although Zheng Ruian once thought that if the Northern Expedition could be successful, he could give up the vassal state he would inherit in the future.

However, if it can be retained, Zheng Ruian will certainly not refuse and will regard it as a good thing.

So I am in a pretty good mood now and I admire Zhu Jianxuan very much.

Although the details are slightly different in the legend, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu did support the reduction of local feudal lords and was an aristocrat worth making friends with.

Chen Yuyang and Lin Jianxing, two of the Duke of Min's aides, are now both in a state of worry.

There really is something seriously wrong with the brain of this prince of my family.

Even if His Royal Highness Prince Wu is right, he still has to consider the reality.

Both of them could not understand why a vassal king and a prince would be willing to support the reduction of vassal power.
In fact, the real reason is that the general trend cannot be violated.

Even if there was no Zhu Jianxuan, a social revolution would have broken out in the Ming Dynasty sooner or later. The new court organized by the urban industrial and commercial groups would not have any mercy on the vassal states.

Like France during the Great Revolution, this new court will be so powerful that both internal and external enemies will be completely crushed.

The first goal of the French Republic, which was created by the French Revolution, was to deal with the increasingly reactionary royal family.

The goal of the Ming Revolution was directly to reduce the power of the feudal lords and to launch the Northern Expedition.

(End of this chapter)